The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-11

as TO make tho product OF their labor Of no
consequence as affecting market prices. In
France, where the contract system obtains,
the prison administration fixes the rates
of payment for the work DONE and these
| are the same as those paid free labor. In
Switzerland the effort is 10 create de-
mand for tho products of prison labor,
rather by the excellence and soliditv OF
the manufactures than by the cheapness
OF price. But in the other nations this inn
portant consideration seems TO have been
overlooked at that time. As a matter of
historical fact, IL has been since 1872 that
the labor element OF the United States
has become so compactly organized
us TO make q iorceiul protest
against the competition of prison
with free labor. Dr. Wines appears
to have left this consideration out OF nc
count The problem now is how to EN-
ploy prison labor without injurious COM
petition with free labor, and at the same
time TO make the State prisons sef-sup-
porting. DR.. Wines stated the true policy
to be the multiplication OF trades, and to
give convicis some choice as TO what trade
they will learn, thus Attending them an
opportunity to consult TO certain extent,
their own tastes and aptitudcs, rs well as
enabling them 10 calculate the chances
of success that different trades would give
them on their liberation. This h certainly
sound principle, but the theory should be
squared with the demand of free labor that
it shall not suffer in wages because OF cheap
prison products.
The Legislature OF Mississippi might he
gin with the acceptance of these principles
as being in line with the civilizing pro-
ccSscs OF the age:
|. Convicts must work
2. Their labor should be Of q character
to train them for industrial pursuits ON
leaving the prison.
}. Such labor is reiormatory because of
the reward il holds out.
t. Nothing should he allowed TO inter
ierc with the operation OF reiormatory in
| iiuCnccs.
3. The lease system is barbnrous.
o. The prison should be scli-sustaining.
These principles may b. taken as guides
| toward the solution OF the hard problem
which confronts the Mississippi Lcgisla-
| turc.
II is natural for the reader 10 inquire
what the writer has to recommend ~ u
| system of prison management To be sub
| stituted for the lease system. lie does not
profess To De able to do this, but hc believes
| he can make valuable suggcUon. IL is
that the committee Of the Legislature to
| which the matter OF reforming the prison
| system may bC referred shall ask the
workingmen OF Mississippi 10 choose repre-
sentatyos who may confer with the COM
| mittce and give il the benefit of their adj
/ vice. The writer hcliNcs that no lcgis-
! lature OF any State has ever taken
| this step. The reason why tho
/ workingmcn should be consulted
is that they, and they alone, are injured
| 10y the competition ol convict labor. They
will agree that conyicts should he kept
employed to the advantage OF the State
/ and the moral advantage OF the convict.
| In order 10 do this, II Is necessary that the
| product OF their labor shall be sold The
| writer is very SURE that II legislative
| committee and u representative labor COM
mission could join in the work of invrsti-
cation, proceeding carefully aud system
atically, with the dual object In view
the welfare of the convict and the
! protection oi free labor such sOlu-
ton would be reached rs would
put Mississippi foremost among the
states in the matter Of Wise and phi
lnnthrOpic management of prisons. The
suggestion that cUnyiC,s should be- worked
upon roads or lcycc-, or other public work
ui this character, is not well conceived.
such work will do very well for short-icrn
conyicls, whose stay In prison Is too brici
to admit OF other rctprnlatOry agency than
the mcrcly penal one oi very hard aborior
limited period. But for convicts who
have been sentenced 20 long terms OF i'm
prisOnmcnt Il Is simply brutal. As far ~
they arc concerned, the obligation rus;,
upon the State to USE every effort 10 make
good citizens Of them. IL can only do this
hy m king them feel, on leaving prison.
that they have been enabled 10 earn an
honest living. Let the wurkinWucn II
Mississippi aud the ncmbcr OF the Legs
laiurc put their heads together.